How to Make an Autumn Punch Needle Portrait

Print out the 2 page template plus additional face template. The main template is in 2 parts, cello tape the two halves together matching the lines of the drawing. Use a heat transfer pen to trace over the lines of the whole image.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Be mindful of where you stick your tape because you will need to remove it easily so you can iron the paper. You don't want melted cello tape on your iron.

Cut a piece of Binca cloth using your 12 inch embroidery hoop as a guide. You want the size to be an inch or two bigger than your hoop. Place the whole image face down onto the centre of the Binca cloth, then iron the paper to transfer the image onto the fabric.

Cut out the additional applique face template. Use the stencil to draw around and cut out some brown fabric for her skin, then use the carbon paper to transfer the face details onto the brown fabric (brows, chin, nose lips and necklace). To this brown fabric you need to attach some Fusible web to the back before ironing to secure to the monks cloth.

Now set your Binca cloth into the embroidery hoop ready to start stitching.

Thread your punch needle with Hayfield Bonus DK yarn in Colour Chocolate. Because this is a double knit yarn we'll need to double the yarn so it fits the chunky punch needle tool. Ensure your punch needle tool is on stitch type C. You're going to stitch flat stitches into the image starting with the outlines of some leaves.

TIP: Try to keep stitches about 0.5cm in length and find a rhythm of direction to work in. Sometimes I like to work in a circular direction.

Move onto the next area to fill in the hair. Continue with flat stitches using West Yorkshire Spinners Chunky Roving yarn in colour Reflect (Black).

TIP: Sometimes, I move onto another colour before completing the previous one just because I can't wait to see the image develop!

Once complete, switch colours turning attention to the bigger leaves. Use West Yorkshire Spinners Chunky Roving RE:TREAT in colour Tranquil (Brown) and Rico Design Chunky 005 Orange. Alternate between the leaves orange, brown, orange and so on.

Complete the punch needling by filling in the remaining large area which is the background using Hayfield Bonus Chunky in Colour Light Natural

Trim all the visible hanging threads left behind from punch needling and tidy up the design so you can check your progress.

Now get your embroidery needle and thread 1 strand of DMC colour 3371 to complete the brows using small stitches to mimic brow hair. Use the same colour and 1 strand with a split stitch to stitch the chin nose and necklace. Changing threads to 2 strands of DMC colour 359, use a satin stitch to fill the lip area.

Once that's complete thread your needle with 2 strands of DMC colour 976 and stitch the necklace pendant using a satin stitch

Flip the hoop over to the wrong side. Get any embroidery thread and stitch a running stitch all the way around the hoop. Trim off excess fabric leaving a couple centimetres from the running stitch leaving a larger circle from the hoop. Pull the thread to gather the fabric into the back of the hoop so it's neatly tucked away. Knot the thread to secure and the embroidery is now complete, ready to display!

IMPORTANT NOTE: You may need to re iron the appliqué. If this is the case be careful of the hot iron on your yarn. You don't want to burn or flatten it too much.